Atlanta’s proposed data-center water limits return to committee agenda Oct. 13

Atlanta’s proposal to prohibit routine data-center cooling with drinking-quality city water is back on the City Utilities Committee’s agenda for Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. It would do more than require different cooling technology: facilities would have to meter cooling-water use, and the city would have to report which data centers receive Atlanta water and how much they consume.⁠[1][2]

Ordinance 26-O-1474 remains pending. Full Council returned it to committee as held Oct. 5, rather than approving the restrictions. Tuesday’s agenda placement is another opportunity for consideration—not a guaranteed vote or the start of any transition deadline.⁠[1][2]

The proposal’s stated priority is reserving drinking water for essential human needs and public health where technological alternatives to industrial cooling are reasonably available. New data centers seeking city approvals after the ordinance takes effect would need closed-loop cooling or technology that Watershed Management determines provides substantially equivalent water conservation. Closed-loop systems recirculate water or another cooling fluid rather than routinely replacing or discharging it. Drinking water, sanitation, fire protection and other lawful non-cooling uses would remain allowed.⁠[2]

Existing facilities inside Atlanta would have to submit water-conservation and cooling-transition plans within 180 days of the ordinance’s effective date and generally convert within three years. Watershed Management’s commissioner could approve a different schedule for documented technical, safety or operational circumstances. Temporary exemptions would also be possible for emergencies, safety needs or specified technical barriers, but would require a compliance plan and deadline.⁠[2]

Outside Atlanta, the proposal would rely on water-service agreements rather than assert unrestricted authority over another municipality. Watershed Management would review agreements supplying Atlanta water to governments that serve data centers and seek conservation requirements through future and renewed agreements where legally permitted. The draft expressly protects existing contractual obligations from retroactive changes.⁠[2]

The measurement provisions would give the city a way to assess cooling-water demand alongside the restrictions. Each covered facility would need cooling-water metering; Watershed Management could require periodic consumption and performance reports. Within 180 days of effectiveness, the department would owe Council a report identifying known facilities, estimated consumption, cooling-water use and applicable service agreements.⁠[2]

The ordinance calls for collecting that information; it does not supply a facility-by-facility water-use inventory or a quantified estimate of savings. The pending legislation therefore establishes a proposed conservation policy and monitoring framework—not a demonstrated amount of water saved.⁠[2]